Tenerife

In an effort to shed some light on how I study for WSET Diploma Course’s D3 exam, Le Club des Vins is running a series of posts covering wine regions. Today’s topic: Tenerife

📍 Location

Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Islands – located off the coast of Morocco and 500 km south of the island of Madeira.⠀

In a nutshell

Canary islands
Tropical climate
Volcanic soil
Listán blanco & listán negro

☁️ Climate

We’re getting closer to the Equator (28°N), so it’s getting hotter and hotter. Tropical climate, mean year-round temperature of 22 degrees. Tenerife has five appellations: Yconde-Daute-Isora, Valle de la Orotava and Tacoronte-Acentejo in the north (exposed to the cool, moist winds coming from the North Atlantic) and Abona and Valle de Güimar in the south (drier but vineyards are located at higher elevations – up to 1600 meters).⠀⠀

🌋 Soils

The most interesting part of Tenerife and the reason I desperately want to visit the island. It’s volcanic 🌋 The largest volcano, not only of Tenerife but of all Spain, is El Teide with a height of 3718m. The last eruption took place almost 300 years ago, spilling ‘a tsunami of lava’. What’s a volcanic soil? Usually rich in iron, which (is believed to) contribute to the metallic (almost salty) tang in the wines. ⠀⠀

🍇 Grapes & styles

There are many different grape varieties in Tenerife, most of them ungrafted as phylloxera never hit the island. The most important varieties are Listán Blanco (same as palomino fino, who knew?) and Listán Negro for reds. There’s also malvasia, verdello and albillo for whites – Trenzado by @suertesdelmarques is a field blend of seven local grapes.

💡 Something you didn’t know (did you?)

Spanish immigrants came to the Canary Islands and brought grapes from their home regions, some hundred years ago. @johnszaboms , in his book ‘Volcanic Wines’ pops the question: should the Canary Islands be considered the last wine-growing country of the old world of the first one from the new world? 🤷🏻‍♀️My favorite wine is Vidonia from old-vine Listán Blanco by @suertesdelmarques.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Your turn now

I always put a new region on instagram first. If you have any additions or comments on a region, please do share. You can drop a comment on instagram or on the website – see below. Your help is much appreciated!